The world of foldable smartphones is evolving, with a new contender emerging on the horizon: tri-fold devices. These phones, featuring two hinges, offer a larger screen experience compared to their single-hinge counterparts. The latest brand to be associated with a tri-fold phone is Xiaomi, fueled by rumors circulating online. While these rumors are yet to be confirmed, a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo suggests that Xiaomi is actively developing a tri-fold device. This development aligns with the growing trend towards tri-fold phones, as various other manufacturers are also making moves in this direction.
Xiaomi’s involvement in the tri-fold phone market comes as no surprise, given its expertise in folding phone technology. The company has already released multiple big-screen foldable smartphones, including the Mix Fold 4, and recently launched its first compact foldable, the Mix Flip, in China. With the emergence of the tri-fold trend, Xiaomi is understandably keen to stay ahead of the competition.
The tri-fold phone trend is already gaining momentum, with multiple brands exploring this new form factor. Huawei has been consistently linked to a tri-fold smartphone and has even confirmed that the production version will be unveiled before the end of the year. Tecno, another player in the folding phone market, has showcased its tri-fold concept, the Phantom Ultimate 2, although its production status remains uncertain. TCL and Samsung have also presented their own tri-fold phone concepts to the public, indicating a growing interest in this technology.
Xiaomi’s entry into the tri-fold phone race adds further fuel to the trend. If several of these inevitably expensive smartphones hit the market this year, Xiaomi will be aiming to make a strong impression. Notably, Huawei’s tri-fold phone could potentially overshadow Apple’s iPhone 16 series launch in China, given Apple’s anticipated reveal of the new iPhone lineup on September 9th. However, Apple is not expected to release any folding phones in the near future.
With the industry embracing tri-fold phones, the future of mobile technology seems to be folding in exciting new ways. The battle for dominance in this burgeoning market is about to begin, and Xiaomi is ready to play its part.